PRO’s: All-wheel-drive, great bang for the buck, big style and luxury.

CON’s: Heavy steering at times, ill-positioned window switches.

FINAL THOUGHT: A luxury and performance oriented Sport Wagon worthy of the Cadillac name.

I got my first taste of the new 2011 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon back in early 2010 at the Washington D.C. Auto Show. It was sitting up on a rotating platform with a crowd of googly-eyed onlookers around it. It’s styling was edgy and bold with a presence that was difficult to ignore. The Sport Wagon is the third member of Cadillac’s CTS family and combines the enhanced versatility and extra space of a wagon, with the handling and styling of a first class sports sedan. Back in November I had the opportunity to head out to beautiful California for the press introduction of the new 556 hp CTS-V Sport Wagon, a machine that has the capability of dusting off unsuspecting super cars at will. For those looking for something a bit more subdued however, well then, meet your new ride: The 2011 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon AWD.Read More…

When you think about sub-compact cars, what generally comes to mind? For most people it’s a cheap interior, sub-par power and most of all, the lack of creature comforts. For 2012 though Chevrolet seeks to change that with the release of their new 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. Over the last few years and due to a crappy economy, automakers have seen a rise in the sub-compact car segment. Cars like the Ford Fiesta and Hyundai Accent, while not flying off sales floors have definitely seen a rise in consumer interest. Chevrolet’s previous offering, the pint-sized Aveo, is now dead and in it’s place comes this new peaky pocket-rocket that has its sights dead set on the competition.Read More…

Recently we brought you guys some renderings of Cadillac’s new CTS-V Coupe race car that’s set to compete in the SCCA America World Challenge GT Series. The renderings were amazing, but I have to say that they’re in no way as cool as the real car that you see here. The car was originally set to debut on Jan. 10th at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, but Cadillac has apparently seen fit to release a few press photos before the actual unveiling. Testing for the new CTS-V Coupe race car will begin later this month at Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, FL. Drivers will include three-time GT1 champion in the America Le Mans Series Johnny O’Connell, and 2005 SCCA World Challenge GT Champion Andy Pilgrim. Seeing the car here, slammed to the ground in race trim with that massive rear wing does nothing but get me totally amp’d up for race season.

Even though the technology in cell phones has advanced drastically over the years, the basic way in which we charge them has not. Most phones are generally tethered to a wall outlet or automotive cigarette lighter by a long spiral cord which is not only cumbersome, but can get in the way of driving. It’s not a safety hazard per say, but it’s also not the best solution out there. Enter the Powermat, a wireless charging station that works simply by placing your electronic device on top of it, thus eliminating the need for a long cord. GM recently invested $5 million into Powermat technology in the hopes of getting the technology into their cars as soon as possible. The first such car to be equipped is said to be none other then the new Chevrolet Volt.

Micky Bly, GM’s lead electronics executive stated, “Imagine a mat or shelf where you could put your iPhone, your Droid or other personal device and charge it automatically while you commute to work, run errands or as you’re driving on a family vacation.”

Over the past few months the new Chevrolet Volt has taken multiple print and online awards. As such it should come as no surprise that the Volt will be the first production automobile to showcase Powermat technology. Personally, I love the idea, as anything that can reduce dash board and or wiring clutter in an automobile is a step in the right direction.

Have you ever been in a newer GM vehicle only to look up and see four buttons on the bottom of your rear view mirror? Well, for those who don’t know what those are, I’m here to tell you. That was OnStar, a service that until recently, was only found in GM vehicles. OnStar is an automated system that works through your cars rear view mirror and provides the vehicles owner with a host of different remote services. Things like automatic crash response, emergency services, stolen vehicle location assistance, turn-by-turn navigation, roadside assistance and hands-free calling are all available. Over the years OnStar has proven itself to be one of the best systems out there, and now, thanks to a deal between GM and Best Buy, it will finally be available to customers who own automobiles other than those built by GM.Read More…

Just recently I posted up a full review of the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro RS, a car that I thoroughly enjoyed. Its 312 hp V6 was a bit peaky, but still provided all the power that most could want, while costing thousands less than its V8 counterpart. For 2012 though things under the hood may be changing for the base model Camaro in the form of a new 3.6-liter V6 that supposedly makes between 325-330 hp. Labeled the LFX, the engine is a DOHC unit with variable valve timing (VVT), spark-ignition direct-injection and E85 capabilities. If this mill does find its way into the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro it’ll be just another shot fired across the bow of Ford in the pony car wars.

When a manufacturer releases a new vehicle they’re obviously hoping for the best when it comes to sales. Of course some models sell better then others, as do certain models equipped with certain features. Take Cadillac’s SRX crossover for example. When the redesigned SRX was introduced in 2009 one engine configuration that consumers could opt for was a 2.8 liter turbocharged V6. It put out a respectable 300 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, but unfortunately was not a big seller amongst consumers according to dealership reports. In fact less than 10 percent of buyers opted for this engine. Combine that with a sub-par fuel economy ratings of 15 mpg city and 22 mpg hwy and it’s no wonder that GM has decided to finally kill it off. The sole power plant for the Cadillac SRX will now be GM’s 3.0-liter V6 that puts out 265 hp and 223 lb-ft of torque. Not a stump puller by any means, but with fuel ratings of 18 city / 25 hwy, it makes the Cadillac SRX a bit more attractive to consumers.

Not long ago I wrote a review on the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro SS. It was Inferno Orange with black racing stripes and a 6-speed manual, and boy oh boy did it get looks going down the road. Looking like the great pumpkin though didn’t come without some pitfalls. For example, everyplace I went the car attracted attention which meant that parking it in a public lot was a bit nerve racking. Then there was the issue of the $37,640 price tag. Sure it was steep, but with 426 hp and 420 pound-feet of torque on tap, as well as Brembo brakes, it was a fair price to pay for the performance that the Camaro SS delivers. Some however love the looks of the new 2011 Camaro but simply can’t swing 37k for a decked out SS. Enter now, the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro 2LT.Read More…

FINAL THOUGHT: A full size American built luxury SUV, that can hang tough with the world’s best.

It’s over 18 feet long, has up to 137 cubic feet of cargo space and with an interior that rivals most high end luxury sedans, it’s one of the nicest SUV’s on the planet. Meet the 2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV Platinum, the Big Dog of American SUV luxury. When I first picked this baby up from GM’s Manhattan storage facility my first thought was – Dear God is this sucker big, but as you’ll see, its size can be very deceiving. The Cadillac Escalade ESV Platinum makes no bones about its in-your-face styling and the fact that it dwarfs everything else in the SUV world. It’s a favorite amongst celebrities, athletes and or anyone who wants to make a statement. As for me, I was just amazed at how good it actually was for its size.Read More…

When Mike and I drove the Chevy Volt from New York to Detroit, I was seriously impressed with the capabilities and long-distance comfort of the car. I wrote several articles on the Volt, including a rebuttal to a political editorial penned by columnist George Will. No car in the history of mankind has been as polarizing as the Volt: the extreme left hates it because it CAN use fossil fuel, and the extreme right hates it because it was built by “Government Motors” and can use fossil fuel. At least the left and right wing extremists agree on something.

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